Sealing closure



NOV. 26, BAIR SEALING CLOSURE Filed April 5, 1962 INVENTOR. BHERBEHT Q. BAIR United States Patent New York Filed Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,307 8 Claims. (Cl. 24-2051) This invention relates to a sealing closure of the type employing a slider fastener with sealing lips for unit ng in sealing relationship the margins of flexible material. More particularly, the invention relates to a fastener of this type provided with an improved slider.

Separable fasteners comprising opposed series of interlocking fastener elements with cooperating lips of elastomeric material are now known for providing a fluid-tight closure of adjacent margins of flexible material. These closures employ a slider or runner movable lengthwise of the series of fastener elements and of the lips to selectively effect opening or sealing engagement. In closures of this type, it has been found that the conventional sliders frequently snag, roll back or otherwise damage the elastomeric sealing lips, especially when the slider is actuated in the direction for engagement and sealing of the closure elements and the margins on which the closure elements are provided are simultaneously subjected to a lateral force tending to laterally separate the margins. Moreover, such lateral forces not only have heretofore caused difficult closing operation but, when the slider has not been moved to its extreme closing positoin, have also caused retrograde movement of the slider with undesired opening of the closure.

In accordance with this invention, these defects are remedied and an improved sealing closure produced by providing a slider for operating the closure so shaped that the fastener element and lip engaging rails or flanges of the slider are in parallel relationship adjacent to both ends of the latter. In addition, the rails or flanges engaging the sealing lips are terminated, adjacent to the closing end of the slider, short of the adjacent ends of the rails or flanges which engage the interlocking elements. Hence, the fastener elements are first directed into interlocking engagement and thereafter the sealing lips are moved together without snagging engagement of the rails or flanges upon the lips. Another feature of the invention resides in the relative spacing between the flanges or rails for engagement of the fastener elements and of the sealing lips, respectively, which is such that there is not excessive squeezing action or friction upon the lips when the slider member moves thereover.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a sealing closure in partially open condition;

PEG. 2 is a detached view of the slider shown in FIG. 1, the view being principally in top elevation with a portion broken away to show the interior construction;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the slider shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the bottom of that figure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view through the sealing closure shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and others in longitudinal section, showing the cooperation of the slider flanges or rails with the fastener elements and sealing lips of the closure; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

The sealing closure is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing as it is employed to unite the margins 10 and 11 of flexible material. This fastener comprises the usual cooperating series of spaced apart, interlocking, fastener elements 12 and 13 attached to the opposed, beaded edges 14 of tapes or stringers 15 which are attached to the margins 10 and 11 of the material to be separably united. The fastener elements 12 and 13 are also provided with longitudinally extending sealing lips 16 and 17 of elastomeric material which have adjacent edges adapted to overlap in sealing relationship, as shown at 18 in FIG. 1, when the fastener elements 12, 13 are in locking engage- The outer edges 19 and 20 of the sealing lips are secured, respectively, to one face of the rear portions of the interlocking fastening elements 12 and 13, respectively, and the adjacent portions of tapes on which these are provided with the distance between the edges 19 and 20, when the lips are in sealing engagement, being slightly greater than the distance between the back edges of the fastener elements 12 and 13. A runner or slider 21 is is movable lengthwise of the closure to selectively effect locking engagement of the elements 12 and 13 and sealing engagement of the lips 16 and 17 or separation thereof in a manner which is now well understood in this art.

In accordance with this invention, the runner or slider 21, which is formed of metal or other rigid material, comprises a pair of plate-like polygonally shaped portions 22 and 23 that are integrally connected in spaced apart, superposed, parallel relationship by a spreader post 24. One of the plate-like portions, for example, that indicated at 22, is disposed upon the sealing lips 16 and 17 and the other of the plate-like portions, for example, 23, is disposed on the other side of the closure and hence upon the fastener elements 12 and 13. The end 25 of the slider, which is commonly known as the nose, is of greater Width than the opposite end 26 and these ends are preferably parallel to each other and extend at substantially right angles to the adjacent sides of the slider and to the length of the closure.

The plate-like portion 22 of the slider is provided, adjacent the side edges thereof, with rails or flanges 27 and 28 on the surface facing the plate-like portion 23 and extending theretoward. Each of the flanges 27 and 28 comprises end portions such as 29 and 30 which are parallel to each other and substantially parallel with the outer edges 19 and 20 of the sealing lips. Inwardly of the ends of the slider these parallel end portions 29 and 30 of the flanges, which are laterally spaced from each other due to the different widths of the ends of the slider, are connected by an obliquely extending portion 31.

The other plate-like portion 23 of the slider has the surface thereof facing toward the plate-like portion 22 provided with rails or flanges 32 and 33 which are shaped in the same manner as the rails or flanges 27 and 2-8 but have their inner surfaces transversely spaced a slightly lesser distance than the corresponding inner surfaces of the rails or flanges 27 and 28 for a purpose hereinafter explained. The ends of the flanges 27 and 2-8, 32 and 33 are disposed closely adjacent the edges 25 and 26 of the slider or runner with the end portions of these flanges rounded, especially on the inner surfaces thereof; However, the ends of the flanges 32 and 33, adjacent the nose portion 25 of the slider, extend slightly beyond the corresponding ends of the flanges 27 and 28 for a reason which will hereinafter be apparent.

By way of example of the relative dimensions, but without limitation thereto except as hereafter defined, one suitable slider made in accordance with this invention has a length of 1.095 inches, a width at the nose portion of .09 inch and with the ends of the flanges 27 and 23 spaced from the edge of the nose a distance in the order of .06 inch while the ends of the flanges 32 and 33 are spaced from the edge of the nose portion a distance of .03 inch. In this slider, the center post has its edge adjacent the nose portion spaced therefrom a distance of .282 inch while the length of the center post is .345 inch and its 'maximum width is .20 inch. Also, the center post is tapered as shown, with the sides so disposed that the in cluded angle is 50. The inner surfaces of the flanges 27 and 2 8 are spaced apart a distance which is .04 inch greater than the spacing of the inner surfaces of the flanges 32 and 33.

It will be understood that the length and width of the slider 21 may be varied from the dimensions given above to cooperate with closures of different transverse dimensions. However, the included angle of the center post 24 should preferably not vary materially from 50. Moreover, the spacing of the inner surfaces of each of the lipengaging flanges 27 and 28 from the longitudinal center line of the slider should be substantially 0.02 inch greater than the corresponding spacing of each of the fastener element-engaging flanges 32 and 33 even though the overall dimensions of the slider are materially changed from the dimensions given above. Likewise, the ends of flanges 27 and 28 at the end 25 of the slider should each terminate substantially 0.02 inch short of the corresponding ends of the flanges 32 and 33.

The outer surface of either of the plate-like portions 22 or 23 may be provided with a suitable means by which the slider may be operated along the closure. As here shown, this comprises an apertured lug 34 on the external surface of the plate-like portion 23 which may receive a thong or other device through which force may be applied to the slider to move it along the closure.

The action of the slider in effecting closing of the improved sealing closure will be apparent from FIG. 4. As shown therein, each side flange or rail, such as 32, as the slider is moved in the fastener engaging direction, engages the outer or rear portions of the fastener elements, such as 12 and 13, forcing these together into interlocking engagement. In this action the portion of the flanges 32 and 33 adjacent the nose end 25 of the slider, being parallel to the direction of pull of the slider, properly support the fastener elements in position for movement into direct interlocking engagement by the oblique portions of the flanges even though lateral forces be applied to the margins on which the fastener elements are secured. Furthermore, the fact that the ends of the rails or flanges 32 and 33, which engage the fastener elements 12 and 13, extend in advance of the ends of the flanges 2.7 and 28, which engage the sealing lips, insure that the said edges of the flanges 27 and 28 will not gouge into, snag or ride over the edges of the sealing lips when lateral force is applied to the margins of the article on which the sealing closure is provided. Instead, the action of the flanges 32 and 33 upon the fastened elements 12 and 13 moves the attached sealing lips so that the outer edges 19 and 20 of these members are progressively diverted from the path of the flanges 27 and 28. This action is further assisted by the parallel portions of the flanges 27 and 2 8 which resist the lateral forces that may be applied to the seal ing member and prevent deflect-ion of the sealing lip edges into damaging engagement with the ends of the flanges. As a result, the slider is enabled to effect sealing operation with less resistance and without damage of the sealing lips. This reduced resistance to operation is also facilitated by the fact that the spacing between the adjacent inner surfaces of the flanges 27 and 28 is sufliciently greater than the spacing between the adjacent flanges 32 and 33 so that the edges 19 and 20 of the sealing lips are not unnecessarily squeezed or distorted between the flanges such as 27 and 28 and the adjacent rear portions of the fastening elements 12 and 13 as has sometimes occurred in conventional sealing fasteners. The spacing of the spreader post from the nose portion of the slider permits sealing cooperation of the slider with an appropriate end seal which may be of the type disclosed in US. Patent 2,800,699.

The invention has been described specifically as it is incorporated in the presently preferred embodiment. This specific description is, however, intended merely for purposes of complete explanation of the invention and is not to be construed as a limitation thereon since variations may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A slide fastener slider comprising a pair of platelike portions integrally connected in spaced apart superposed parallel relationship by a spreader post, integral flanges on opposite side edges of each of said plate-like portions extending on either side of said spreader post and with the flanges on one portion directed toward those on the other portion, both end portions of each flange being parallel to each other and to the end portions of each of the other flanges with the said spreader post located inwardly of the ends of said plate-like portions and the said flanges extending beyond said post to locations adjacent said ends, the transverse dimension between said flanges on one of said plate-like portions being less than the transverse dimension between the flanges on the other of said plate-like portions.

2. A slide fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the said flanges which are spaced the lesser distance extend lengthwise beyond the corresponding ends of the flanges which are spaced the greater distance.

3. A slide fastener as defined in claim 2 wherein the difference in transverse dimensions between the flanges is substantially 0.04 inch and the said lengthwise extension of the flanges which are spaced the lesser distance is substantially 0.02 inch.

4. A slide fastener as defined in claim 1 in which the spreader post has tapered sides the included angle of which is substantially 50.

5. A sea-ling closure for uniting in sealing relationship margins of flexible material, the said closure comprising an opposed series of spaced apart interlocking fastener elements attached to said mangins, a pair of flexible sealing lips attached to said elements and adapted to extend in overlapping engagement with each other over one face of the said elements when the latter are engaged, the edges of said lips remote from their engaging surfaces providing longitudinally extending shoulders, and a slider comprising a pair of polygonally-shaped plate-like portions disposed, respectively, in contact with said fastener elements and said lips, a spreader post extending between the series of elements and cooperating lips interconnecting said plate-like portions in spaced parallel relationship, integral flanges on opposite side edges of each of said plate-like portions with the flanges on one portion directed toward those of the other portion and with the flanges adapted to contact the outer edge-s of said elements and remote edges of said lips, both end portions of each flange being parallel to each other and to the end portions of each of the other flanges and the lip-engaging flanges terminating a greater distance from the closing end of the slider than the fastenerengaging flanges.

6. A sealing closure as defined in claim 5 wherein the fastener-engaging flanges extend a distance of substantially 0.0'2. inch closer to the closing end of the slider than do the adjacent ends of the lip-engaging flanges.

7. A sealing closure for uniting in sealing relationship margins of flexible material, the said closure comprising an opposed series of spaced apartinterloclcing fastener elements attached to said margins, a pair of flexible sealing lips attached to said elements and adapted to extend in overlapping engagement with each other over one face of the said elements when the latter are engaged, the edges of said lips remote from their engaging surfaces providing longitudinally extending shoulders,

and a slider comprising a pair of polygonally-shaped plate-like portions disposed, respectively, in contact with said fastener elements and said lips, a spreader post extending between the series of elements and cooperating lips interconnecting said plate-like portions in spaced parallel relationship, integral flanges on opposite side edges of each of said plate-like portions with the flanges on one portion directed toward those of the other portion and with the flanges adapted to contact the outer edges of said elements and remote edges of said lips, both end portions of each flange being parallel to each other and to the end portions of each of the other flanges with the transverse distance between the lip-engaging flanges being greater than the transverse distance between the fastener element-engaging flanges, and the lip- 15 engaging flanges terminating a greater distance from the closing end of the slider than the fastener-engaging flanges.

6 8. A sealing closure as defined in claim 7 wherein the transverse distance between the lip-engaging flanges is substantially 0.04 inch greater than the transverse distance between the fastener element-engaging flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,496 Ulrich Aug. 6, 1929 2,061,681 Norton Nov. 24, 1936 2,240,048 Morin Apr. 29, 1941 2,721,366 Deshaw Oct. 25, 1955 2 ,923,992 Armstrong Feb. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 312,621 Great Britain May 29-, 1929 117,974 Austria June 10, 1930 

1. A SLIDE FASTENER SLIDER COMPRISING A PAIR OF PLATELIKE PORTIONS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED IN SPACED APART SUPERPOSED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP BY A SPREADER POST, INTEGRAL FLANGES ON OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF EACH OF SAID PLATE-LIKE PORTIONS EXTENDING ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID SPREADER POST AND WITH THE FLANGES ON ONE PORTION DIRECTED TOWARD THOSE ON THE OTHER PORTION, BOTH END PORTIONS OF EACH FLANGE BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE END PORTIONS OF EACH OF THE OTHER FLANGES WITH THE SAID SPEADER POST LOCATIONS INWARDLY OF THE ENDS OF SAID PLATE-LIKE PORTIONS AND THE SAID FLANGES EXTENDING BEYOND SAID POST TO LOCATIONS ADJACENT SAID ENDS, THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSION BETWEEN SAID FLANGES ON ONE OF SAID PLATE-LIKE PORTIONS BEING LESS THAN THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSION BETWEEN THE FLANGES ON THE OTHER OF SAID PLATE-LIKE PORTIONS. 